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Jul 24, 2018

Parkland high school to start using metal detectors next month

Starting this fall, students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in
Parkland, Fla., will have to pass through metal detectors.

Administrators have considered a number of measures for greater security
after the Feb. 14 shooting attack that killed 17 people. Some have
already been implemented. Students wear IDs at all times, campus
security was increased and school entrances were limited to four.

MSD also required students to wear clear backpacks at the end of last
school year. But with the metal detectors coming, that requirement will
be dropped.

Principal Ty Thompson tweeted "clear backpacks are out" and metal detectors will be in for the start of the school year Aug. 15.

MSD is also altering the fire alarm tone, and there will be four
additional security officers, more school resource officers, 52 more
cameras and more gates and locking hardware.

"No one is going to bring anything because you have metal detectors,"
student Gabriella Figueroa told CBS Miami. "I feel a lot safer."

The Broward County School District is the sixth-largest in the nation
and second-largest in Florida. The Sun-Sentinel reported MSD is the
first in the district to use metal detectors.

Metal-detecting equipment has been in place for decades at some inner
city schools, but some districts have instead mostly focused on
prevention through behavioral assessments.

Superintendent Robert Runcie said the district has worked with law
enforcement to improve "code red" lock down drills, and their frequency
will increase at the start of the new school year.
https://www.geezgo.com/sps/32109